Emery County Travel Bureau approves $500,000 commitment for Ferron event center; OKs funds for Goblin Valley signage and event workshop

Emery County Travel Bureau advisory board members on Sept. 9, 2025 approved three funding measures intended to support tourism-related infrastructure and event development across the county.

The board voted to recommend a $500,000 commitment to Ferron City to help rebuild a livestock and events facility that burned down last year. Board members also approved setting aside up to $5,000 to update and post three informational kiosks or signs around Goblin Valley State Park and nearby trailheads, and authorized up to $2,000 to host an event workshop and produce a workbook and limited promotional assistance for event organizers.

Why it matters: The board said the Ferron commitment is intended to help restore a multiuse facility that hosts the county's stock show and other events; the Goblin Valley signs are aimed at improving visitor wayfinding and reducing search-and-rescue demand; and the workshop is designed to help community event producers use limited marketing funds more efficiently. Travel-related (TRT) revenues and matching grants are the stated funding sources discussed during the meeting.

Ferron livestock and events facility: The board moved and approved a $500,000 commitment to Ferron City so the city can complete its Community Impact Board (CIB) grant application and proceed with rebuilding a smaller, multiuse arena and support spaces. Board members and staff said Ferron has also applied for and received other funding (CIB grant and loan, and insurance proceeds were discussed by speakers) and that the county's contribution would be governed by a cooperative agreement to protect the county's TRT balance if the state auditor later finds the use nonqualifying. The travel office reported it has a draft cooperative agreement that would require the city to assume repayment liability if required by the state auditor.

Goblin Valley signage: Board members discussed search-and-rescue strain related to Little Wild Horse and other trails around Goblin Valley State Park and the need to better communicate trail difficulty and hazards. The board approved setting aside up to $5,000 as a contingency fund to update or install three kiosks/signs at the four-way park entrance kiosk, the main outdated kiosk, and a Trailhead kiosk. The travel office said it is still negotiating design and printing responsibilities with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Goblin Valley State Park; BLM may cover some costs and the $5,000 is intended to prevent funding delays.

Event workshop and curriculum: The board approved spending up to $2,000 to host a hands-on event workshop this fall for groups that seek event funding from the travel office. The workshop will include a workbook, basic social-media training, and a small advertising match (staff proposed $500 in boosted ads per attendee group); the workshop is also intended to create accountability and a consistent application process for future grant cycles.

Votes and next steps: Each vote passed on the board's roll call at the Sept. 9 meeting. For the Ferron item staff said a cooperative agreement will be finalized and presented to the Board of County Commissioners. For the Goblin Valley and workshop items staff will return to the board with implementation details and any updated cost estimates as work proceeds.

Context: Board members repeatedly noted shrinking statewide co-op grant awards for marketing this year and said the travel office is prioritizing investments that will increase overnight stays and local economic impact. Travel office staff also said the county has set aside a “special projects” surplus that could be used for one-time investments of this type.

Ending: Staff will draft the Ferron cooperative agreement for legal review and will provide updates and cost breakdowns for the Goblin Valley kiosk project and the event-workshop logistics at future meetings.